Earlier, Luther had been wondering: all the tunnels in this mine looked so uniform, wide, and intersecting; had the miners really been so meticulous?
Now he had the answer. The original mine had long been expanded by the giant Steel-type serpent, forming this sprawling network. And as they moved through it, Sandshrew's hesitation over whether the serpent was nearby suddenly made perfect sense.
"Is this the Steel-type Pokémon you wanted us to find?" Luther shouted to the Sandshrew clinging to his shoulder as they ran.
Sandshrew nodded furiously, holding tight as though letting go would mean certain doom.
This Pokémon was essentially a powerhouse of the mine itself. Its body could break through almost any rock and take nearly any hit. Any Pokémon living in this mine would inevitably collide with it, hence why the Dugtrio had fled so desperately.
"Why are we running? Can't we just fight it?" Mai asked, her eyes alight with the thrill of combat.
Luther almost wanted to suggest she take a closer look at Eevee and Jumpluff's attacks. Judging by the serpent's sheer size and favored terrain, a head-on fight here would be… unwise.
Spotting the light of the tunnel exit, Luther and Mai pushed forward, sprinting for safety.
The Dugtrio leaders and their swarm had already scattered, anticipating the serpent's arrival. The creature was far from friendly, it had driven them off several times before. A direct confrontation now was inevitable.
Luther had barely stepped outside when the giant Steel-type serpent barreled out of the mine. Rocks and debris flew everywhere, and Luther nearly got buried under them. Quick-thinking Jumpluff and Sandshrew used their moves to shield both Luther and Mai, keeping them safe.
It was the first time Luther had seen a Pokémon this massive in person. Easily seven or eight meters long, its metallic body gleaming under the sunlight, its gaze unbearably imposing, just looking at it made Luther feel minuscule.
Even though they were here to capture it for someone else, the thrill was undeniable.
Bertha would have been thrilled too, the giant Steel-type serpent was Ground and Steel dual-type, satisfying both her and her apprentice's preferences. Everyone would be happy.
In the games, Pokémon captures were typically one-on-one, throw a Poké Ball, repeat.
But that was not Luther. For Pokémon he truly wanted, he preferred direct, overwhelming force. Group attacks, chaotic and brutal, were his favorite.
He released all of his Pokémon at once, coordinating with Mai to maximize their effect.
The giant Steel-type serpent's attention was initially focused on the Dugtrio. As a burrowing Pokémon, it tolerated other creatures living sparsely in the mine. But the Diglett swarm was far too large, constantly disrupting the tunnels it had carefully maintained. Its goal had always been to drive them away.
If not for the Diglett's relentless resistance and numbers, it would have succeeded long ago.
Now, sensing the battle and the defeat of the Dugtrio, the serpent saw an opportunity.
"Strike while the iron is hot," it seemed to think. Finally, it could drive the Diglett clan from its territory.
…Except, who were these two humans beside them?
As Luther's Pokémon formed into battle positions, the serpent suddenly felt uneasy. Very uneasy. It reared back cautiously, eyes fixed warily on Luther, inching backward into the mine.
"Trying to run now that you've come out?" Luther grinned. "Attack!"
No sooner had he spoken than Jumpluff launched Leech Seed, wrapping it around the serpent's massive body.
Espurr's Psyshock and Kirlia's Psychic Power struck the giant Steel-type serpent, but it barely reacted.
That was the curse of super-effective Abilities against Steel-types. Fortunately, Luther still had ways to deal with it.
Marill, however, made her presence felt. Planting both paws on the serpent's massive body, she pushed with unbelievable strength, moving it as if a god had descended to lend a hand.
In the chaos, Sandshrew hastily used Sand Tomb, trapping both Marill and Slowpoke.
Slowpoke seized the opportunity. While Marill restrained the serpent, it leapt onto the creature's head and delivered a Brick Break.
The serpent's movement stalled for only an instant, then it immediately tried to break free from Sand Tomb, attempting to escape the encirclement.
Its body was terrifyingly tough. As it endured the flurry of moves, it also managed to swing its Iron Tail, smashing at the fragile Sand Tomb barrier. Sandshrew's creation dissolved after only a few hits.
At that moment, the Dugtrio, accompanied by their swarm, emerged silently from the path the serpent would take to return to the mine.
Their combined Ground-type power cracked the cavern floor. The sheer force of their move sent shockwaves through the ground, catching the Steel-type serpent completely off guard. Pain flickered across its massive face.
Seizing the opportunity, the Dugtrio rammed the serpent, forcing it from the mine's interior to the outside.
Dizzy and disoriented, the three leaders barked loudly toward Luther, who immediately understood.
The Diglett could only launch one coordinated strike. If Luther failed to seize this moment to capture the serpent, the Diglett would be powerless to block it again.
"Mai," Luther shouted, "Can Slowpoke use any Fire-type moves?"
"Yes, Fire Blast. But it's not very accurate; it might miss."
"Miss?" Luther assessed instantly. "I'll ensure it hits. Have Slowpoke get close and use it directly in front of the serpent."
He turned to Marill. "Hold the serpent's tail with all your strength! Don't let go!"
"Espurr, Kirlia, use Psychic Power to lighten Marill's load! Jumpluff, get close and use Stun Spore! Sandshrew, help the Dugtrio reinforce the Sand Tomb, don't let the serpent escape!"
Commands flew.
Marill grabbed the serpent's tail, stopping it from smashing the Dugtrio or scattering their swarm. The massive creature froze, bewildered by the tiny blue force holding it back.
The serpent twisted violently, but Espurr and Kirlia's mental powers arrived just in time, easing Marill's burden and slightly suppressing the serpent's movements.
Jumpluff's ambush was discovered. The serpent turned and rammed it away.
Slowpoke, usually sluggish, displayed surprising agility. At the very moment the serpent recovered from contact, it darted toward the creature's midsection.
Struggling violently, the serpent realized too late that this pink Pokémon was fixated on its body.
Before it could react, a scorching Fire Blast erupted. A powerful gust of wind swept across the battlefield.
Marill was flung violently by the serpent's thrashing, but the Fire Blast hit the serpent squarely. The heat seared through its body, leaving it dizzy and disoriented.
Jumpluff, tossed into the air, landed deftly on the serpent's back and slowly ascended toward its head. The serpent, still dazed, didn't notice the light little Pokémon standing atop it.
Only when it felt a sharp shock, and a red-and-white Poké Ball spun down to strike its forehead, did it finally realize what had just happened.
(End Of This Chapter)
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